New Wales second-row Andrew Coombs is determined to make up for lost time after passing his international test with flying colours.

New Wales second-row Andrew Coombs is determined to make up for lost time after passing his international test with flying colours.

The Dragons lock was plucked from relative regional obscurity to make his Wales debut against Ireland.

And the 28-year-old was one of the shining lights in the 30-22 loss and is eyeing a second Six Nations start against France in Paris next Saturday.

“I just hope I have done enough now to get in that team to go to France,” said Coombs.

“I’m 28 and I can’t waste time. It’s important that when I’m here, I do as much as I can to stay for a long time.

“Obviously there are some class second-rows coming back later on during this campaign.

“But my job is just to do as much as I can and make it tough for the coaches to leave me out.”

Coombs was wearing the battle scars of Test rugby afterwards, but insisted he is not going to join the Wales second-row injury crisis that has already accounted for Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones.

“I caught my elbow on the way down from a lineout but I’ve had it strapped up and it feels fine now,” said Coombs. “I got a couple of stitches in the back of my head from the same fall, while my calves gave way after 60 minutes, but it’s all good.

“The lungs took a bit of a battering, but after an hour I had my second wind.

“It was tough in defence filling gaps and you don’t have as much time as you do in regional rugby.

“I’m just glad to get through 80 minutes because I wasn’t expecting to get a full game on my first run in international rugby.

“But Ian Evans is coming back from a long-term injury, so it was probably right he went off.”